Clubs and classes for children in West London

Clubs & Classes

by Robina Cowan and Roma Mahbubani

Trying to arrange for a friend to come to tea after school is quite a challenge. There’s a rustle of diaries across playgrounds as parents check when they can fit in some old-fashioned playtime around ballet classes, violin lessons, maths club and football training. Children’s lives are so very busy, it seems.

There are do-everything children whose parents cram in after school activities to ensure that their children achieve - at all costs. Others spend hours a day in cyberworld, communicating at high speed in typed grunts, nudges and shorthand on MSN, Bebo and MySpace; or plugged into endless computer games racking up higher points against the TV monitor.

As parents, we need to help our children find a balance between enriching their lives with perhaps one or two scheduled activities, and allowing time for ‘just chilling’ too, as Families readers agree:

Christine Bond is a parent, and also a school teacher. In her view: ”there is no point in enrolling in every class going. Don’t assume your child will get an academic head start. They will only benefit academically when they are ready, and not before. Remember children get exhausted too. Give them time to themselves. Children should choose and be given a taste of each activity before deciding if he or she wants to join. It could be that she is not ready for it yet - a child should never be put under pressure.”

Jonny Clines from Stagecoach believes: “It is important that children can take part in activities that may stretch them, but where there is no exam or test to worry about and where they can make mistakes and try out things in a safe environment.”

Father of three Dan Baker agrees: “Children’s lives are far more active - possibly competitive, but as such they know no different as classes can only support their developing curiosity and interest. Many after school clubs operate to a more relaxed structure than the classroom but at the same time they complement school in offering individual attention and/ or topics not covered by school. We signed up our boys to Kumon and they’ve really liked attending each week.”

Looking for fun

Dan’s point is absolutely valid - children should really love the activity. There’s no point forcing a shrinking violet to join the local football team if he’d be better suited expressing his creativity through music, art, or drama, for example. On the other hand, the family fidget is less likely to want to sit over craft projects when the dance floor, swimming pool or sports field are calling.

How to choose

If you are trying to ‘encourage’ your child to achieve your own unfulfilled ambitions, or to take up every chance you never had, think again! Resist the rivalry game, too. Just because Amanda’s child is grade 7 at piano and captain of the local hockey team, that doesn’t mean yours has to be as well. She may be after giving her child the edge when applying to a selective senior school, but that if that’s sole reason for choosing an activity, it could take the fun out of it and you’ll soon have a resentful child on your hands.

Involve your child in the decision and find something they will really enjoy for its own sake, then the other benefits will naturally follow, giving them new interests, skills and friends. In terms of how many, the consensus seems to be that one or two is about right, (with one a physical activity) as part of a balanced life which also includes time to finish homework, to hang out with friends, and spend precious time with parents. As one dance teacher asks: “what happened to children just being children?”

Practical considerations

The skills and quality of the staff is of paramount importance. Ideally, the staff will offer a calm, disciplined environment with happy, focused students. Most classes offer a free taster session to give your child a chance to see if it’s for them - take them up on it before making the commitment. Other things to think about include the time you will spend taking your child to and from the class - if it becomes another chore, this will impact on both your child’s enjoyment and your patience. Also, be prepared for your child’s interests to change as they get older. One mother of two told us: “When our daughter felt she had outgrown her ballet class, she was happy to move onto a theatre school where she could still indulge her love of dance, and add to it. Similarly, our son took up the trumpet for a year and half at school, then wanted to learn the electric guitar. We felt the time put into the trumpet was a worthwhile investment in teaching him to read music and play with other musicians, which he could transfer across to a new instrument.”

There really is plenty of variety to choose from, as you’ll see in these pages. Try our advertisers - they’re here because they want you to know about them and will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Art and Crafts

With the arts sadly squeezed in an increasingly results-focused school curriculum, out of school options are most welcome. Often children who aren’t top of the maths or science class discover hidden talents through art classes. The best ones actively encourage children to use their imaginations in a more creative way, developing artistic and social skills at the same time as making new friends and having fun.

Try these

Young Artist

Young Artist presents new courses in fashion design, Crazy Crafts, and Art G.C.S.E coursework groups. Join the fun and friendly structured classes in the artist’s studio. Develop art skills and learn new techniques with acrylic/oil paint on canvas and easels, watercolour, textiles, collage, printmaking, clay and 3D sculpture and much more.

Classes take place from Monday – Saturday. From ages 4+ Prices start from £8 per class. Private tuition and Art Parties also available for all ages. 020 8968 0855

Stitch Club

After-school and holiday sewing classes for ages 8 and over. Learn to sew, by hand and on sewing machines, and make lots of cool projects - cushions, bags, aprons and sew much more! Classes in Ealing at Northfield's Community Centre ( 71a Northcroft Rd, W13) on Tues at 5.45pm and in Chiswick at Belmont Primary School ( Belmont Rd, W4) on Tues at 4.30pm and at Chiswick Town Hall, ( Heathfield Terrace, W4 ) on Weds at 4pm and 5.30pm 0208 208 4845 www.stitchclub.co.uk

Dance

Dance training improves posture and confidence, with the learning by demonstration and repetition. The discipline and practical education that dance can offer, coupled with a fundamental appreciation of musicality, precision and rhythm benefits all children, in whatever walk of life they aspire to. There are so many different forms of dance, there has to be something for every child who has ever tapped, jiggled or swayed to a particular beat.

Languages

London is an incredibly multicultural society - proving that children are perfectly capable of learning a second language from their mother tongue.

Educators agree that because of the way a child’s brain develops, the more they hear a foreign language when they are very young, the easier it is for them to repeat the sounds and acquire a good accent without the self-consciousness we often have as adults.Furthermore, learning a new language provides a new way of looking at the world as well as developing new communication skills.

Try these

Arabic Lessons

For ages 5+ at Montpelier Primary School, W5 on Tues 3.15-4.15, and at Andre Malraux School, W7 on Weds 1.15-2.15, and a class for adults at the Arabic School, based at Ellen Willkinson School, W5 on Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Private lessons for women and children at home also available, mother and child classes on request. Call Reem on 07956 845 053 or email [email protected]

Music

A love of music, like that of literature, is a wonderful resource for an entire lifetime. The more a child understands the language of music, the more confident and enriched he or she will be by listening or playing, yet music does not generally enjoy the emphasis it deserves in primary schools. Music stimulates learning; in fact, David Mulhall, who treats dyslexic children, firmly believes that there would be far fewer dyslexic children if music were taught at school. Music is also a form of self-expression and communication. Music can soothe, stimulate, express hope or desire, convey sadness or invite a jolly good dance around!

Try these

Monkey Music

Starting the new autumn term on Monday 17th September in Notting Hill W2, Holland Park W14, Kensington High Street W8, Chiswick, Kew and Richmond. Classes start from ages 3 months to 4 years. New for the autumn is the launch of the exciting Rock 'n' Roll classes for babies from 3 months at Kensington High Street. For a free introductory session please call Helen Beach on 020 8451 7626 (for classes in Notting Hill, Holland Park and Kensington Hight Street) or Claire Slade on 020 88474031(for classes in Chiswick, Kew and Richmond).

Ealing Junior Music School

Saturday morning music school offering tuition in all orchestral instruments, as well as a wide range of orchestras, bands, and chamber groups to play in. They also have theory classes, the Hanwell Children's Choir, and an Adult Chorale. For the younger students, they have group recorder classes, Kindermusic and Musicianship classes. Students range from age 3 to 18. www.ejms.org.uk, or ring 020 8997 0084

Questors Young Musicians Club (QYMC)

A not-for-profit music school established in 1960's, which aims to instil a love of music in children. Music tuition for children 3-18 years is offered on Saturday mornings at the club, held at FieldingPrimary School in Ealing. The club offers tuition in a wide range of instruments, ensembles and concerts. 020 8845 8737 www.qymc.org

The Music House for Children at 306-309 Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush, W12.020 8932 2652 www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk Keyboard, percussion, guitar, singing, violin, recorder music and early years classes. Classes run from 9.45am-6.15pm Monday-Saturday.